Blonde Highlights

AH-LOW-HA! Sing that greeting and only one person will come to mind: Hawaii’s Ambassador of Aloha, Danny Kaleikini. St. Francis Healthcare Foundation of Hawaii and Hawaiian 105 KINE will honor Kaleikini in a tribute concert, An Evening of Aloha, at the Hawaii Theatre March 31 at 7 p.m. The entertainment lineup includes Gabe Baltazar, Jimmy Borges, Cathy Foy, Nalani Olds, Iva Kinimaka, Rene Paulo and more. Kaleikini will take the stage as well. BTW, did you know that this music legend has sung the Hawaiian Wedding Song more than 10,000 times? ... Another calendar note to keep in mind comes from Chaminade University alumni relations officer Be-Jay Kodama. She’s taking roll call for the school’s 50th Anniversary Alumni Weekend Reunion. I’ll be one of the first to say “Here!” Food, fun and music are planned April 21-23 with Frank DeLima and Inoa’ole. Get on the alumni registry by calling Kodama at 739-8526. Other lady Silverswords include journalist Malia Zimmerman, Hawaii Beyond Paradise television host Kim Lehano and KSSK radio producer Sweetie Pacarro ...

Speaking of the sweet Perry & Price personality, during a recent Saturday morning show Pacarro found another branch to add to her family tree. Apparently, her husband Brad Johnson is related to New Zealand Katchafire band lead vocalist Jamey Ferguson. It seems that Johnson and Ferguson have the same great (x3) grandfather in Maori Chief Ihaka Whaanga. How’d they figure it out? Pacarro’s youngest son Ihaka Johnson happened to be in the audience that morning and struck up a conversation with show guest Ferguson ... A few final words about the KSSK family with my favorite coach and fellow MidWeek columnist, the guy on the right, Larry Price. The inaugural Katoosh - Education Through Athletics dinner is slated for Thursday, March 2, at the Sheraton Waikiki. It’s a benefit for the Oahu Interscholastic Association. Reservations are filling up fast! And it’ll be the first time the entire OIA will be in the same room - ever. It must be because of the dinner menu, in case you haven’t heard, they’ll be serving up roast ... Another dinner menu to keep in mind is that of Koi Sushi Bar and Sake Lounge. I ate my first raw oyster - yum! After being coached by my friends on how to slurp the sea treat, I realized that the Hokkaido-style half-shell appetizer wasn’t as slimy and gross going down as I thought it would be. We also tried the ahi trio - “Oh, that’s the best item on the menu,” gushed Koi staff member Brandi Lelepali. She was right, it was good, but so were the other five dishes we had! This newly opened venue has taken up shop in place of the old Blue Tropics on Kapiolani. Gone are the monkeys and the booths. Instead, you’ll find four fish tanks, four pool tables and several couch seating areas - I think I counted eight. Owners Shane Tsubaki, Brian Hasegawa, Justin Hensen and Keoni Chan have created a comfortable setting where you can kick back and hang with friends…

A show where so-called friends do the hanging is on the CBS hit Survivor. I’m rooting for the self-proclaimed “Mr. Miyagi” in cast member Bruce Kanegai. The Simi Valley native has a local vibe to him and is often seen flashing the shaka sign. Could it be that Survivor has its first cast-away with Hawaii ties? I don’t know, do you? I’ll have to do a little more checking on that one ... Someone I do know for sure with a longtime Island link is Jin DeSilva. He’s the caretaker of Doris Duke‘s Shangri-La estate. He told me that he’s been named a living legend by the members of the Doris Duke Foundation. In his 70s, he’s the only living member of Duke’s original staff. FYI: DeSilva is owner of one of the largest Olympic memorabilia collections in the world ... Keeping his own Olympic collectible is KHNL producer Thomas McCurdy. He is the proud owner of a 2002 Salt Lake Olympic games torch. McCurdy represented Hawaii that year as he ran with the Olympic flame for a quarter of a mile in California. He entered Coca-Cola’s nationwide essay contest and explained why he should get the honor, and how our small state sometimes gets overlooked in those types of contests. Coca-Cola gifted the torch to McCurdy. On it, an inscription reads “light the fire within” ... She may not be lighting fires, but she’s sure to be melting hearts. All four pounds and 11 ounces of her! Please send a warm island welcome to Taylor Campbell, daughter of former KGMB meteorologist Kuualoha Taylor and husband Gregory Campbell. The pink bundle arrived a little earlier than the expected St. Patty’s due date, but not to worry, both mom and baby are doing just fine ...